$10,000 Reward Offered in Moose Poaching Case

A reward of $10,000 is being offered for any information that will help solve a case of an adult moose illegally killed 20 miles southeast of Jarbidge, Nevada.

The dead moose was discovered 100 yards west of the intersection of the Sun Creek access road and the O’Neil Basin Road, near the boundary of hunt units 072 and 075.

“The moose was killed sometime in middle to late December in a very visible area,” said Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) Game Warden Fred Esparza. “It’s very possible someone might have seen something that could be helpful in catching the individuals responsible. Even if you just saw a vehicle parked in that area or a hunter on an ATV or UTV, we would like that information.”

Witnesses may call the Operation Game Thief hotline at (800) 992-3030 to report information on this or any other wildlife related crime.

This is the third illegally harvested moose in Nevada in the last three years. The first two shootings were mistakenly killed during cow elk hunts and self-reported. This incident is not believed to be a misidentification as the head was removed and a large portion of the meat was taken.

At this time, NDOW does not conduct formal surveys to estimate the population of moose. However, the number of observations and their growing frequency suggest 25-40 moose may permanently reside in the Silver State.

“It’s amazing to see the reaction of people when they see a moose for the first time,” said Esparza. “It’s really unfortunate that these poachers just took that special opportunity away from the rest of us.”

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. Find us on Facebook, Twitter or visit us at www.ndow.org.